Method and apparatus for currency testing



y 5, 1954 N. A. GECEWICZ 3,131,798

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CURRENCY TESTING Filed y 15, 1960 SOURCE United States Patent 3,131,798 METHOD AND AllARATUS FOR CURRENCY TllSTlilG Norbert A. Gecewicz, Rockford, ill, assigncr, by mesne assignments, to Automatic Canteen Company of America, Chicago, "11., a corporation of Delaware Filed lViay 13, 196i Ser. No. 28,995 13 Claims. (til. l9 i4) This invention relates in general to a material evaluation arrangement and more particularly to a currency testing arrangement in Which currency is automatically accepted, if legitimate, for coin change or other purpose and rejected if simulated or counterfeit and wherein a light test is performed to determine that the currency is properly collected.

In its organization, the present invention largely comprises novel circuit arrangements for a currency acceptance unit and constitutes an improvement of the invention described in application Ser. No. 744,966, filed on June 27, 1958, now US. Patent No. 3,198,693, issued on October 29, 1963. That application and its forerunners disclose the mechanical structure and the basic circuit arrangements permitting certain currency evaluations to be made. The arrangement by which this is done comprises a horizontal slide having a trough therein into which currency such as a dollar bill is deposited. A door hingedly secured to the slide is closed over the deposited currency and the slide carrying the currency is reciprocated into a test position between certain lamps and light responsive cells. On the slide being operated into the test position, appropriate circuitry is controlled to operate a solenoid, which locks the slide in place. The lamps are then lighted. The light is transmitted in various degrees through respective areas of the currency depending, of course, on the color and value of the respective areas. The light responsive cells underlying the various areas respond to the quantity of light passing through those areas to provide an indication of the acceptability of the currency. Thus these cells are divided into three groups called black, white and green in accordance with the well known characteristics of currency notes. The currency is rejected if either the black or green cells receive more than a predetermined amount of light or the white cells less than a predetermined amount of light. If found unacceptable the slide is released and coin payout prevented. If found acceptable the currency is collected into a cash box on being stripped from the slide. This is done by a stripper motor, solenoid and guillotine arrangement which operate as described in the mentioned application. A coin payout motor is now energized and it operates a cam or finger in any well known manner to dispense the required coins. The slide is also released and automatically reciprocated into its unoperated position where it is prepared to receive another deposit of currency.

in the described arrangement no provision was made for initiating coin payout responsive immediately to the clear tray condition. It was further noticed that in the described arrangement the possibility existed for tripping a switch contact normally operated on removal of the note to thereby avoid a successful determination of the note removal. Thus a valid note could be mechanically retained in the slide after the completion of the validity test despite the stripping operation, while coin payout continued. Consequent to the coin payout and restoration of the slide drawer, the note could be removed, thereby cheating the machine of a doilars worth of change.

It is therefore proposed in the present invention to test for the presence or absence of the note on its removal from the slide drawer into the cash box. This provides a positive determination of its presence or absence and "ice by utilizing the apparatus provided in the light test for making this determination, considerable economies in providing such a test are achieved. It will be appreciated that a number of difliculties attended the solution of this problem in that with the bill removed, the lamps could not be left on to flood the cells with direct light, while on the other hand the provision of an arrangement sensitive but not overly sensitive to incident light is not readily available. In this invention the problem was solved by utilizing the black cells, which are responsive to minimum light conditions, in a novel manner.

An object of this invention is therefore the performance of a test to determine that paper money or currency has in fact been removed from a test area following the performance of a currency validity test, during which the money or currency has been determined valid.

A further object of this invention is to condition coin payout or other operation to be performed subsequent to the determination of the validity of a currency note on the automatic removal of the note from the test area.

Another object of this invention is the making of a determination that a tested currency note is removed from a test area by the light responsive apparatus used in determining the validity of the note.

't is still another object of this invention to perform a currency validity test utilizing certain light responsive apparatus which is subsequently used for determining that currency is properly removed from the test area.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure and/or circuits may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of this invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, this invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

The drawing illustrates the circuit arrangement where by the objectives of the present invention are accomplished, and it incorporates with some minor changes the principles disclosed in the aforementioned application.

Referring now to the drawing, there will be seen at the lower left a conventional source of A.C. power 35 connected across a 24 volt transformer 20 via conductors 3i? and 32.

Transformer 2% furnishes power to the various test relays compris ng the bad impulse relay 170, the black and white test relays 160 and respectively and the tray clear test relay 146. In addition the A.C. source 35 is connected to the constant voltage supply indicated by the box marked 34 for the purpose of ensuring a steady or constant voltage to the various lights 117 and 119.

Lead 38 is also connected to the common ring contacts lill and 2% carried by the rotor of a timer motor 1% for selective interconnection with the various leads 4%, d1, d2, 43, 44 and 45 to permit the various tests, stripping and coin payout functions to be performed in the proper sequence.

Also connected across the power supply 35 is the primary of transformer 6. With transformer 6 energized the rectifier arrangement 12 connected across the secondary of the transformer 6 maintains a constant D.C. braking voltage through contacts 111 on the payout mentioned: application,

r 3 motor 14 to positively prevent its operation until relay 116 is operated.

The empty switch contacts 17 are normally closed if coins are available in the coin dispenser or disposal unit, .as explained in the aforementioned application. On an empty coinage condition, the circuit extends lead 32 from the empty signal lamp 18 and switches 19 through contacts 21 to lead 30 for energizing the lamp. The lamp 13; on energizing, lights to signal the empty condition.

The apparatus further comprises a series of switches 92, as and 96, the latter two of which close if the note is properly positioned in'the test area. Switch $2 closes in response to the proper positioning of the slide in the test area.

As described in the aforementioned application a lock solenoid 125 is provided for locking the slide in position when manually operated into the test area. A stripper motor 145 and stripper solenoid 135 are provided for operating the bill or note stripping arrangement including: the guillotine, described in the aforementioned application, for removing the note from the test area on completion of a successful test.

White, green and black cells 199a, 19% and 1996 respectively are provided beneath various areas of the billin the test area and each has associated therewith an individually corresponding meter or galvanometer relay 70, 8t} and 85, whose contacts are controlled re-' sponsive' to the various tests.

A bad impulse relay 170 is operated in the eventany validity test except the minimum light test and the tray clear. test is unsuccessful.

In the present arrangementrelay 189 is provided to introduce positive booster battery 166 to the black cells 19%. This permits a determination to be made that at least the minimum amount of light is transmitted through the dark areas of thebill by operating the test relay 153. A similar'test is also performed under the control of relay 18% for operating relay 160 under control of the white cells lfii a and relay 7%.

A tray clear test is performed utilizing certain already described apparatus under control of the relay 190, which is operated responsive to the stripping of the bill from the test'area; Relay 190 connects the black cells 19% 7 across the green relay 8% and the contacts 81- of the green relay Stl'to the clear tray test relay 141 Briefly described, the operation proceeds with the deposit of a currency note, bill or paper in the trough provided in the slide drawer and the manual operation of the slide to the. currency testing position as explained in the aforementioned application. The lock solenoid 125 is energized responsive to the closure of switches 92, 94 and 96.

irnproper positioning operated-position due to the solenoid 125 failing to operate for locking it.

Operation of the lock solenoid 125 on the other hand completes a circuit to the start relay 126 and that relay initiates operation of the timer motor 109. motor first completes a circuit to the lamps 117 and 119 via contact 101 and conductor 40 to light the lamps.

With the slide drawer in its locked operated position, the currency note, bill' or paper overlies light responsive cells199a, 19% and 19%. As explained in the aforethese cells underlie respectively hued portions of the currency. Each has associated therewith a respective meter relay 70, 89 and 85 having respective contacts 71, 81 and 86.

The first test to be performed is an excess of light test. In thecase of the white cells 199a, a potentiometer or adjustable resistor l8a in circuit with the white cells ldia and the associated relay 70-limits the current there- The timer 6% through to a predetermined value. It has been the previous practice to test for excess light passing through the black and green cells 199]; and 1990 and the addition of this circuit arrangement permits the same function as can be performed with the white cells 19%.

Thus if the current in cells 199a exceeds a predetermined amount as determined by the setting of resistor l da the relay contacts 71 close to place the bad impulse relay 17%) across the secondary of transformer 20. Also in the event either cell groups 19% or 1990 respond to an excess of light passing through the currency, respective relays fill and close contacts 81 and/or 86 respectively to place relay 17% across the secondary of transformer 29. With relay 170 across the transformer, it energizes to prevent coin payout as will be explained.

Assuming that the tests just described were successful and relay 179 was not operated, the progress of timer motor 1% causes contact 102 thereon to complete a circuit to relay 180. Relay 180 now removes potentiometer @811 from the circuit of relay 7% and connects booster battery 166 for the black cell test to determine that suflicient light passes through the corresponding portions of the currency. It also connects the contacts 72 and 86 to the White and black test relays 160 and 150" respectively. Thus with the proper amount of light passing through the note cells 199a and 19c cause relays it? and 85 respectively to'close contacts 71 and 86 respectively. This places relays 160 and 156 respectively across the secondary of transformer 20 and each energizes to prepare for operation of the stripper motor 145 and the tray clear test.

The stripper motor 145 is operated by the timer motor 1% providing relays 159 and 163 are operated. It con trols the stripper solenoid and the guillotine as ex-' plained in the aforementioned application to strip the currency from the trough in the slide into the proper receptacle. Operation of relay 1% is thereafter provided to permit performance of the tray clear test. Its operation, too, of course, is conditioned on the operation of relays 15% and 164i and the failure of the bad impulse. relay 1-75 to operate. Relay 196 may be of course operated simultaneously with motor and both may be under control of an intermediate relay, but the test controlled thereby is not performed until the tray is clear;

Relay 1% connects the black cells 199a across meter relay 39in provide cellsand relay capable of. reacting sufiiciently to'the light. Contacts 81 of the green cell relay 8% are now connected to the tray clear test relay 14d and responsive to the closure of contacts 81,v relay 1 :84 is placed across the secondary of transformer 29 and operates. Of course, if the currency has not been cleared for any reason, insufficient light is transmitted and relay S 9 does not energize sufiiciently to' close contacts 81. If relay 145i) is therefore not operated by the time the reset relay 23% is operated, coin payout is'prevented.

One. completion of the successful clear tray test, relay 14! operates to permit-the timer motor 164} to operate relay 118. Relay 111? on operation removes the DC. brake on the payout motor 14' and energizes the motor. The payout motor 14 now operates the dispensing'finger lie diagrammatically illustrated for removing the coins to be dispensed from their chute.

The finger 14 of course is operatively connected to the contacts 21, 15 and lie and if jammed due to the improper dispositionor alignment or" one or more coins, it prevents the contact operation. The further operation of motor 14 is therefore prevented. If the coins are freely disposed, the payout motor 14 and relay 119 are held operated until If, as mentioned previously, were operated due to an unsuccessful test, operation of thestripper motor 145 and/ or operation of relay 110 and the payout motor 14 is prevented. Likewise failure of relays and rm to operate prevents operation of motor 145, relay lit; and motor 14. If, on the other hand, relay 4% fails to operate while relays 1513 and 160 are operated, the stripper motor 145 is operated, but relay 119 and the payout motor is prevented from operating. In any of these test failure situations the timer motor operates the reset relay 13! which in turn restores the test components.

In detail the circuit operation proceeds in the following manner after the currency is inserted in the slide drawer and the slide placed into its operated position with the currency in the test area, as explained in the aforementioned application. The currency feeler switch contacts 94 and 96 close to indicate that the currency is properly positioned. Contacts 92 which are disposed in operative relationship to the slide in any well known manner close responsive to the proper location of the slide in its operated position.

With the slide in its operated position a circuit is completed from the A.C. supply 35 over conductor 32, through lock solenoid 125, through currency feeler contacts 96 and 94, tray feeler switch 92, contacts 131 on reset relay 1311, the normally closed empty switch contacts 17, the coin jam contacts 21 and conductor 31) extending to the other side of the A.C. supply 35. The lock solenoid 125 energizes in this circuit to lock the slide carrying the currency in its operated position with the currency in the test area, as explained in the afore mentioned application and closes contact 126.

Contacts 126, on closing, connect the conductor 39 extending through contacts 132 on reset relay 136, through the winding of start relay 124) to conductor 32 to energize relay 120.

Relay 1213 on energizing closes contacts 121 in shunt with contacts 126 to complete a locking circuit for itself. It also closes contacts 122 to connect conductor 38 extending to the timer motor 160. This energizes the timer motor 1%. Timer motor 199 now initiates operation of its rotor and the leading finger contact 101 thereon extends power from conductor 30 to conductor 41 to light the scanning lamps 117 and 119. At contacts 1233, relay 121) provides a holding circuit for solenoid 125.

With the lamps 117 and 119 lighted, the light is passed through the respective coiored and light areas of the currency in the drawer, as explained in the aforementioned application. This light falling on the white, green and black cells 199a, 199.) and 1990 respectively causes corresponding current to pass through the cells. In the case of the cells 199a this current is extended through adjustable potentiometer 198a, contacts 185 and the winding of the associated meter relay 7 ii. Current passing through cells 19% extends through contacts 195 and the winding of the associated meter relay 80. Current passing through cells 1.990 extends over contacts 191 and 181 through the winding of the associated meter relay 85. If light in more than a predetermined quantity is passed through respective areas of the currency the respective cells pass suificient current through the coils of the associated relays 71), 89 and/or 85 to close the associated contacts 71, 81 and 86.

If, for any reason such as an imperfect or counterfeit currency that passes too much light in one of the areas, closure of any of the contacts 71 or 86 connects one side of the secondary of transformer 29 extending through contacts 133 and conductor 134 to contacts 188 and/ or contacts 183 to contacts 193 and the other side of the secondary of transformer 21) through the bad impulse relay 171). Contacts 81 if closed connect conductor 134 to relay 179 through contact 193. On being connected across the secondary of transformer 21 relay 170 operates. This prevents any coin disposal as will be explained.

Assuming that none of the aforementioned relays 76, 88 or 85 close their contacts, the next test will be conducted. As the rotor of motor 1011 continues its operation the contact 192 extends power from conductor 313 to conductor 49 through the first switch relay 180 and con- 6 doctor 32 to energize switch relay 186. It should be noted that contact is maintained with conductor 40 to maintain lamps 117 and 119 lit during this test.

This test is a determination that sufiicient light passes the light and darkest areas of the bill to energize relays 169 and 159 respectively. At contacts 189' relay 180 locks operated through contacts 132. Relay 180 disconmeets the contacts 86 and 71 from the bad impulse relay 176 at contacts 188 and 183 respectively. Instead, at contacts 189 and 184 respectively it connects contacts 86 and 71 to relays 150 and 160 respectively. At contacts 185 the adjustable resistor or potentiometer 198 is disconnected from relay 70 and cells 199a connected directly to the winding of relay 70 at contacts 186. At contacts 187 positive potential from battery 166 is applied through adjustable resistor 167 and contacts 182 and 191 to permit relay to close its contacts in response to a predetermined light value applied to Cells 1996.

With the relay '74 connected directly across cells 199a and the booster battery applied to relay 85 and cells 199a, both relays close their contacts 71 and 86 respectively responsive to the light passage. This connects the secondary of the 24-volt transformer 29 through contacts 71 and 86 respectively, contacts 184 and 189 respectively to relays 160 and 150 respectively. Both relays 150 and 16% therefore operate. If, on the other hand, contacts 71 or 86 fail to close, indicating the failure of the note to pass suiiicient light through either the white or black area of the note, payout will be prevented due to the failure of relays 150 and 160 to operate, as will be explained.

Relay 160 also locks operated through contacts 163 and at contacts 161 it prepares for currency stripping and coin payout respectively.

Relay 150 locks operated at contacts 153 and closes contacts 151 and 152 to prepare for currency stripping and for coin payout.

With contacts 151 and 161 closed, a circuit is completed as soon as contact 102 on motor 106 extends power from conductor 31) to conductor 42 over contacts 172, contacts 161 and contacts 151 to energize the stripper motor 145.

Stripper motor 145 closes contacts 146 to extend the power on conductor 30 through the stripper solenoid 135, as explained in the aforementioned application, and the guillotine is operated as to strip the note from the slide drawer. It will be understood, of course, that a relay may first be energized to control the operation of the motor 145, solenoid and relay through respective contacts. However, for the purpose of illustration, as explained in the aforementioned application, or at any desired time in the cycle, contacts 148 close when the bill or note is stripped. This extends the power on condoctor 31? through relay 199 to initiate the tray clear test. It will be noted that in the meantime motor contact 101 has left the conductor 41 to extinguish lamps 117 and 119. The black cell-s 1990 are used in conjunction with the green relay 8% to determine that removal has occurred. In the meantime, stripping the note from the slide opens switches 94 and 96; however, solenoid 125 is held operated over contacts 123.

Relay 19h locks operated through contacts 197, 189 and 1.32. At contacts 194 it connects the winding of the green test meter relay 80 through potentiometer 85a to one side of the black cells 199a and at contacts 192 connects the windings of relays 80 to the other side of the cells 1994-. At contacts 196 it connects the contacts 81 of relay 80 to the tray clear test relay 140. If the tray is clear, the winding of relay S0 is energized sufiiciently to close contacts 81. This connects relay 14G across the secondary of transformer 26 to energize relay 140. Relay 140 looks operated over contacts 142 and closes contacts 141 to prepare the payout sequence. Of course, if relay 140 does not operate payout will not occur, as will be explained.

Opening contacts 111 removes the D.C. braking po- V tential furnished by rectifier 12 in the output of transformer 6 and applied to the payout motor 14' to permit operation of the motor 14. The payout motor 14 now energizes overv contacts 113.

As the payout motor operates, it extends a control arm or finger 14' into the coin chute to dispense coins as explained in the aforementioned application. With contacts 15 and 16 closed, indicating successful coin disposal, relay 110 andthe. payout motor 14 lock operated through. contacts 112, 16 and 15 until the payout cycle is completed. This prevents restoration of motor 14 and relay 119 when contact 1 02 leaves conductor 43. l Vhen arm 14' returns to normal to open contacts 15 and 16, contacts 15 and 16 on opening, of course, open the holding circuits for relay 111) and motor 14 to restore them.

In the event a coin should jam to prevent the movement of the payout mechanism, contacts 15 and 16 remain open. The relay and motor are de-energized as soon as contact 102 leaves conductor 43. With contacts 21 thereafter failing to close, a later circuit is not corn pleted to solenoid 125 and further tests are not conducted until the trouble is cleared.

As the rotor switch contact 161 comes in contact with conductor 45, power from conductor is extended through contacts 122 to maintain the timer motor operated. A moment later, when contact 1&2 connects power to conductor 44, the reset relay 130 energizes.

Thus relay 136 on energizing, opens contacts 132 to open tor 14 continue operated, and on passing through the motor cycle and restoration of contacts '15 and 1 6, operation of the payout motor 14 and relay is terminated. Relays 180 and 199, of course, restore on the opening; of their locking circuits. Relay 12%), on restoring, opens the holding circuit for solenoid and it restores to release the slide which now returns to its nor- 7 mal position.

A suming normal operation; the rotor contacts 1M and.102 pass from conductors 45 and iunder control of motor 109. This terminates operation of the reset relay and the timer motor 1% respectively, and the apparatus is now prepared for another cycle.

When the lock solenoid 125 is restored, the slide drawer is returned'to its unoperated position, as-explained in the aforementioned application. Switches 92, 94 and 96 therefore open.

' In the event the bad impulse relay 17% was operated on any of the tests, circuits to stripper motor and relay 1% 'or relay 11% cannot be completed, as contacts 172 and 173 open. At contacts 171 relay 170 locks'operated across contacts 133. Subsequent operation of the reset relay 139 restores the locking circuit for relay 17d and it restores;

In the event the relays or 15% failedto operate 7 responsive to the'tests for suificient light passage, the

circuits to motor 145, solenoid 135 and relays 1% or 110 can not be completed as contacts 151,152 or 161 and 162 remain open. Operation of the reset relay 138 thereafter releases the operated components as described.

If the tray clear test fails to operate relay 1 :53, the circuit to relay 110 can not be completed ascontacts 141 remain open. The D.C. brake on the payout motor 14 is maintained and therefore coin payout can not take place Thereafter operation of the reset relay139 restores the operated components as described.

While the invention has been described with reference to the testing of paper currency, it will be understood that the concepts of this invention will have application to the testing of other sheet material advanced to a position for test whereupon the sheet material is either 'accepted and removed or else rejected and returned or otherwise disposed of. Such other sheet material may include. cellulosic or plastic strips having printing or color designations thereon or therein such as tickets, checks, printed plastics, printed cards or other printed or colored sheet stock.

In accordance with the above, there has been shown and described herein an improved material or currency evaluation arrangement for improving the operation, testing and control by such evaluation arrangement, but the particular embodiments or forms of the invention de scribed herein are not limitations upon other manners of practicing the invention.

I claim:

1. A currency testing arrangement including coin dispensing means comprising means for carrying a currency note in a test area, means for determining the validity of said note in said area including a radiation source, means for automatically removing said note from said area responsive to a determination that said note is valid, radiation responsivemeans for thereafter testing to determine said note is removed from said test area, and means operated by said radiation responsive means responsive to a determination that said note is removed for operating said coin dispensing means.

2. A material testing arrangement comprising a. radiation source, means for carrying said material into a test area for exposure to radiation, radiation controlled means operated responsive to said material passing a predeter- V mined amount of radiation for automatically removing said material from said area, arid means including a portion of said radiation controlled means for determining that said material is removed from said area.

3. The arrangement claimedin claim 2 in which said material is a currency note which is tested for the purpose of permitting coins to be exchanged therefor, the improvement comprising'a coin payout means operated only responsive to the determination said note is removed from said area.

4. A currency testing arrangement comprising a light source, means for carrying a currency'note into a test area for exposure to light, light controlled means operated responsive to said currency passing respective predetermined amounts of light through respective predetermined areasfor automatically removing said note from said area, and means including said light controlled means for determining that said note is removed from said area.

5. A currency testing arrangement comprising a light 1 source means for carrying a currency note into a test area, means including a plurality of light responsive cells 7. In the arrangement clamied in claim 5, a coin dispenser, and means operated responsive to a determination that said note is removedfrom-said test area for operating said coin dispenser to dispense coins.

8. A currency testing arrangement comprising a light source, means for carrying a currency note into a test area for exposure to light, a plurality of groups of light responsive cells individually associated with respective differently colored areas of said note, means associated with respective ones of said cells and operated responsive to said note areas passing a predetermined amount of light for automatically removing said note from said area, and last means including one of said cell groups associated with the darkest area or" said note for determining that said note is removed from said area.

9. The arrangement claimed in claim 8 in which a respective electrical valve is provided for each respective cell group, and said last means includes the electrical valve associated with another cell group.

10. The arrangement claimed in claim 8 in which means individual to certain respective cell groups are provided for control by the respective cell group to determine that less than a predetermined amount of light is passed by said note.

11. The method of currency testing comprising the steps of passing light through a currency note in a test area, determining the light intensity passed through respective areas of said note, removing said note from said test area responsive only to the passage of a predetermined light value through said respective test areas of said note in said test area, and the step of thereafter testing said test area for light passage to determine that said note is removed.

12. A material testing arrangement comprising means adapted to position material in a location to be tested,

means for testing the material for validity, means for collecting said material responsive to a determination that said material is valid, and a source of radiation and radiation responsive means for thereafter testing to det rmine that said material has been collected.

13. A currency testing arrangement including coin dispensing means comprising means adapted to position a currency note in a location to be tested, means for testing said currency note for validity, means for collecting said currency note responsive to a determination that said currency note is valid, means for thereafter testing to determine that said currency noted has been collected including a source of radiation and radation responsive means, and means operable in response to a determination that said currency note has been collected for operating said coin dispensing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,465,409 Baur Aug. 21, 1923 2,202,897 Butherus June 4, 1940 2,731,621 Sontheimer Jan. 17, 1956 2,827,822 Timms Mar. 25, 1958 2,950,799 Timms Aug. 30, 1960 2,957,387 Patzer Oct. 25, 1960 2,964,641 Selgin Dec. 13, 1960 

1. A CURRENCY TESTING ARRANGEMENT INCLUDING COIN DISPENSING MEANS COMPRISING MEANS FOR CARRYING A CURRENCY NOTE IN A TEST AREA, MEANS FOR DETERMINING THE VALIDITY OF SAID NOTE IN SAID AREA INCLUDING A RADIATION SOURCE, MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REMOVING SAID NOTE FROM SAID AREA RESPONSIVE TO A DETERMINATION THAT SAID NOTE IS VALID, 